This is your page, The Scale
Model Horse Drawn Vehicle enthusiast, where you can send pictures of
the models you've done and email them
to "The Scale Model Horse Drawn Vehicle" web site, to be
put in the Gallery. I want to thank each and every one of you who
have and will participate in sending pictures of your models. If
you haven't
yet sent your model in please do, as I will be proud to show off
your creations here in the Model Gallery. Please do not send kit
built models,
or models of very poor quality, as these will not be displayed in
the gallery.

ß
This model of a "Yellowstone Coach" was built by Dale Ford of Redding,
California, America, and is one of a collection of 15 models that
was at one time offered for sale, as were the following 4 models.
Made by Abbot-Downing, the company that made the famous Concord
Stage Coach, this sightseeing coach was also slung on leather thoroughbraces.
It would carry eleven passengers and the driver; on sightseeing
trips around the park, from a two day trip, to a complete tour of
the park which took five days. The fringed top on iron supports
protected the occupants from the blazing Montana sun.

"Chuck
Wagon" by Dale Ford of Redding, California, à
America.
The Cowboy “Chuck Wagon” needs little introduction, and is regarded
as one of the “classic” and most well known of all horse drawn vehicles,
along with vehicles like the Conestoga Wagon, Prairie Schooner,
Wells Fargo Stagecoach and ‘The Surrey with the Fringe on the Top’,
as these have been featured many times in movie films, (westerns)
for many decades; from the silent era to the present day. But the
high time of the trail drives lasted only about 20 years, from the
end of the Civil War to the mid -1880's. In that brief period of
time around 10 million cows walked the trails from Texas to the
rail heads in Kansas and Missouri. Many of these went as far as
Wyoming and even into Canada.

ß
"Mud
Wagon" by Dale Ford of Redding, California,
America.

Although
looking somewhat similar to the Concord coach, the “Mud Wagon” was
a lighter and more rugged vehicle, able to carry loads over roads
more hazardous than those which the Concord coach traveled. It was
more open and often only had a canvas top and sides; consequently
it cost only about half that of a Concord coach. The stage would
often make 125 miles a day, stopping only a short time at the swing
stations, merely to replace the team of six horses.

"Army
Escort Wagon" by Dale Ford of Redding, àCalifornia,
America.The
standard four-mule escort wagon had a load capacity of three thousand
pounds on good roads. Perfected and standardized during and immediately
following the Spanish-American War, hundreds of these wagons were
used to patrol the Mexican border and thousands were sent to France
during World War 1. Over the years they were built by a number of
government-approved contractors like Studebaker, Kentucky, Thornhill
and other well-known brands. Each of the pieces was designed for
rapid deployment, exceptional strength and ease of maintenance.

ß
"Concord Stagecoach" by Dale Ford of Redding, California
America. Of
all the different types of carriage, the Concord coach probably
evokes the sprit of the “Wild West” more than any other. Chased
by red Indians, and held up by notorious outlaws it has passed into
American folk history and legend, thanks in no small way to the
Hollywood “Western” films.

A
1/8th scale model of a Hampshire Waggon built by Cliff
Rogers of Abergavenny, from John Thompson plans.

à

This
photograph was taken in 1979 at an exhibition at the Pitstone Local
History Society Museum, and shows a 1/8th scale model
of a Northamptonshire Waggon? From a drawing by David Wray. (Modelmaker
unknown).

If
anyone can identify this model and the maker please let me know.

ß

Robert
Nichols from Columbia, Missouri USA, has submitted the following
two superb models. They are both built to 1/12th scale
from bass wood, chemically blackened brass, and spring steel tyres.

The
Conestoga Wagon shown right was built from Criss Cross plans and
pictures from several books.

à

Robert
Nichols from Columbia, Missouri USA built the 1/12th
scale model of a Prairie Schooner, (left) from John Thompson plans.

Note
the scale model lamp, rifle, saw, spade and pick axe, essential
tools on the long journey to the new life in California and Oregon.

ß

Pete
Womochil, of Carefree, Arizona has submitted the "Horse Drawn Bottom
Dump Wagon" shown right. The original wagon was last used in the
1930's to repair/rebuild a section of US Highway 66 in northeastern
Arizona.

The
model is a 1/8th scale replication of the original with
steam bent felloes, tongue and groove side boards, working bottom
dump doors with chain winch and over 350 individually made #00-90
scale carriage type bolts and square nuts.

à

Move
mouse pointer over picture to see side view.

ß"Radish"
is a model maker who lives in Brisbane, Australia. He has made a
number of SMHDV, all in 1/12th scale. The model
shown left is a Light Spring Waggon made from plans/drawings published
in a set of three books by J E Bishop, circa 1900. The paint used
is enamel house paint; the pinstriping is done using Corel Draw,
and then getting them printed to transfers. The timber used for
all of these models is Tasmanian Myrtle, a hardwood with no noticeable
grain, which takes an excellent paint finish. Notice the small front
wheels which are able to turn under the waggon, this would assist
manoeuvrability in some of the narrow streets when transporting
products to market. You
can see other models made by Radish here:-

Another
fine example of the work of a skilled model wheelwright is this
Farm Waggon built by Radish of Brisbane, Australia. The tyres on
all of Radish’s models are made of steel and then heated up
on the electric hotplates until they turn blue; they are then rubbed
down with steel wool to give them an authentic appearance. Note
the decorative curved timbers (shutters) on the double shafts. This
wagon has iron supports (strouters) supporting the outraves on both
sides of the body. The cutout in the nave is so that the lynch pin
can be removed if the wheel has to be replaced.

Move
mouse pointer over picture to see side view.à

ß
This
1/12th scale model of a Skeletal Waggon was made
by Radish of Brisbane, Australia. The original is owned by a Mr
Bob Bone in Brisbane. Radish took dozens of photographs and accurate
measurements (especially of the skeletal parts) and then produced
his own scale drawings. All parts are scratchbuilt, including nuts
and bolts. The original waggon was used by Cobb & Co to go from
Uleba to Surat, not many passengers, but lots of freight, it still
has the five horse hitch on the drawbar, two to the swingles and
three up front. This vehicle's full description is a "Skeletal
Waggon on Three Reach Undercarrige with a Buckboard type seat fitted".

Move
mouse pointer over picture to see rear view.

The
two pictures shown below are of a 1/8th scale model of a Sydney
Brass Sulky circa 1920's made by Radish of Brisbane, Australia.
Do take a look at the bigger images to see the detailed decals which
have been applied to this beautiful model. To see more of this superlative
model, open this link: SULKYClick
on pictures for bigger view.

Heavy timber and girder jinker (Shown below)

This
is a 1/12th scale model made by Radish of Brisbane, Australia; and
shows a jinker of the original type, such as employed as part of
the rolling stock of the timber mill. The introduction of immense
quantities of iron girders and pillars in the construction of modern
buildings led to these vehicles being extensively used to transport
these girders. They were made in various sizes, but generally the
front portion is built so that it can be used in conjunction with
the hind portions of different weights and capacities. Notice that
contrary to the usual custom, the centre of the rear cranked axle
is made heavier, making this the strongest part of the axle. To
make an axle of this description is a steam hammer job, quite beyond
the capabilities of the ordinary smith shop. The forecarriage consists
of a pair of shafts with a platform between cross bar and bolsters
on which is carried rollers, feed bags, chain and jacks etc.The
nave brakes are in full working order on this model. Click on any of the three pictures below for
a bigger or different view.

Heavy
Float. (Shown below)

Here
is another outstanding model made in 1/12th scale by Radish of Brisbane,
Australia. The rear cranked axle enables the floor of the vehicle
to be close to the ground which makes it easier to load the heavy
bulky items which this vehicle would transport. The nave brakes
on the Heavy Float are in full working order on this model also.
Clicking on the last picture of the three below will display a 1935
photo of a monument being transported by team of draft horses in
front of the Victorian Parliament House. Click on any of the three pictures below for
a bigger or different view.

Plate
Glass Float. (Shown below)

Another
model made by Radish, from plans taken from the "Coach
Builder Atlas of Scale Drawings" by J.E. Bishop & Co.,Sydney
& Melbourne. Model made in 1/12th scale. This also has a rear
cranked
axle and nave brakes as on the Heavy Float, also in full working
order. The large loose sheets of plate glass would have been carried
in a nearly vertical position, and not flat. Details on the working
drawing are taken from a float used by Brooks, Robinson & Co;
Melbourne. Note that the forecarriage is in front of the body, the
wheels being of a narrower track and placed far enough forward to
allow for a full lock. Clicking on the last picture of the three
below will display the drawing of the moveable frame for holding
sheets of plate glass.Click on any of the three pictures below for
a bigger or different view.

à

These
two excellent models have been sent in by Ron Curzon who lives in
England. Ron is a member of 'The Guild of Model Wheelwrights'. The
model to the right is a 1/8th scale Oxfordshire
Waggon built from John Thompson plans. This is a beautiful model
to build, and shows the craftsmanship of the village wheelwright
at its very best.

ß
This stately 1/8th scale model of an East-Anglian
Waggon, made by Ron Curzon, is also from John Thompson plans. The
actual vehicle was amongst one of the largest and heaviest ever
built in England. A man of 6ft. 4in. would have had to stand on
tip-toe to look over the side at its lowest point and the rear wheels
were around 5½ft. in diameter.

Rob
Prentice, and his wife Linda, live in Queensland, Australia and
both are model makers’ par excellent! Rob has made a number
of outstanding model horse drawn vehicles and Linda, who is into
making scale harnesses and dolls house fittings, has also had a
hand in producing some parts of these lovely 1/12th
scale models. The model shown right is a 14-passenger Cobb &
Co. Stage Coach. The original vehicle is housed in the Cobb &
Co. museum in Toowoomba and is in bad need of repair. Rob spent
many hours taking accurate measurements, photos and sketches of
the vehicle to produce an authentic model, as close to the original
as it is possible to get. This was the last coach to run between
Surat and Yuleba in Queensland on 14 August 1924 - just over 70
years after the first passenger coach had rolled out of Melbourne
on 30 January 1854!

Move
mouse pointer over picture to see close up view.à

Seven
horses were needed to pull this coach when it was loaded with
mail, luggage and passengers, and the model horses seen here were
also made by Rob and Linda, from resin cast moulds.

ß

A 1/12th
scale model of a 3 Reach Buggy, made by Rob and Linda Prentice
of Queensland, Australia.

à

This
unusual and interesting model is of a 16th century
Swivel Galloper, - a specialized type of horse artillery. It is
made in 1/8th
scale using lime wood, and was sent in by John Walford, a member
of 'The Guild of Model Wheelwrights.'

From
a contemporary artist's drawing, and thought to be Spanish, in
spite of the Tudor Rose Bosses. It is believed to be the earliest
example known to use a screw elevation mechanism.

ß

"Barron"
Tree Transplanter

Moving large trees needs great care and enormous power. Nineteenth-century
technology provided the answer in the form of this excellent
tree transplanter,A little known vehicle, capable of lifting
and transplanting live trees up to 40' or 50' high. The original
is still at Kew Gardens and is believed to be the last survivor.
The transplanter would be taken to the prepared sight where
the tree was to be lifted, dismantled, and then assembled over
the trench and around the tree; the tree now being in the centre
of the frame formed by the fore and rear carriages. Once everything
was secure the tree would then be winched out of the trench,
and transported to the new planting site. The tree would be
lowered into the new site, and the transplanter was again dismantled,
the root-ball unwrapped and the pit backfilled with humus rich
soil - to encourage new fibrous root growth. It was designed
by William Barron and in 1866 Kew Royal Botanic Gardens bought
one, and used it to great effect, transplanting 60 trees weighing
up to seven tonnes each during the course of one winter.

The model shown here is in 1/12th
scale, and was made by Guild member Brian Young, from a David
Wray drawing.

The
photograph to the right shows a superb 1/8th
scale model of a Royal Veterinary Corps Mark II Horse Ambulance
made by Brian Simpson, a GOMW member who lives in Staffordshire.
As well as the many hours spent in making the model, Brian has spent
considerable time in researching the subject by corresponding and
visiting various sources to achieve a model as close to authentic
as is possible. There is much interesting detail in the vehicle
that is difficult to see from the photograph, like the adjustable
jacks on each corner to steady the ambulance whilst the injured
horse is made safe and secure, and the way the ambulance can be
assembled around the horse thus causing minimal stress to the animal.
The steel hoop that can be seen arched over the ambulance is to
secure a wide strap which passes under the animals belly, should
the horse then become unconscious or not be able to stand it is
prevented from collapsing. Brian has even researched the driver’s
uniform and regimental insignia, and also carved the ambulance driver
and both the horses from American bass wood. à

When
this model was recently displayed at the Midlands Model Engineering
Exhibition on the 15th October
2005, it received a well deserved
1st Prize.

ß

Another
photograph taken at the same Exhibition in Warwickshire, showing
John Castle’s 1/8th scale
model of a Somerset Waggon, made from David Wray plans. It is
believed that there are only three of these 'Cock Raved' Waggons
surviving; two in the Tiverton Museum and one at MERL, Reading.
There is a wealth of elaborate chamfering and shaping to the timbers
on this waggon and John has achieved this in a most detailed manner
that shows the wheelwrights craft at its finest.

This
1/8th
scale British Army Travelling Forge has been made by Joe Cartledge,
a long-time member of the GOMW. The travelling forge consisted of,
besides the limber, a framework of three rails and crossties, on
which was fixed a bellows and a fireplace. The stock, held up by
a prop, served as support for a vice. Behind the bellows was placed
a coal box, which had to be removed before the bellows could be
put into position. The limber chest box provided a place to store
the tools for use with the forge, horseshoes, nails, spare parts
for carriages, harness hardware and other necessary materials and
supplies. Ideally, each field artillery battery would have a travelling
forge. The forge had to be light and moveable as possible, in order
to be able to repair promptly any carriage that might become disabled.
à

ß

John Prior is also
a Guild member who has displayed a number of fine models on the
Societies Stand. Here to the left is shown a 1/8th
scale Courage Show Dray from John Thompson plans. The actual vehicle
was built in the Old Kent Road and can now be seen at the Courage
Shire Horse Centre, near Maidenhead. It can be fitted with shafts
for a single horse, (as shown) or a central pole for a pair. The
fittings are displayed, including one of the barrels.

Brian
Simpson discovered this unusual vehicle outside a pub in Staffordshire
in 2001. Following two years of research the owner was finally traced
who stated that the wagon was bought from a Bavarian farmer who
was using it in the forest to carry logs. After further research
and "surfing" the Internet, Brian contacted the Curator
of a working farm museum in Finsterau in Bavaria, who suggested
that such a lightweight waggon was unlikely designed for carrying
logs, and Brian’s further correspondence with a Bavarian lady
indicates that these vehicles were common on farms and were used
for carrying crops such as hay. By 2004 the actual waggon outside
the Staffordshire pub was rapidly disintegrating, so measurements
and about 200 photos were taken by Brian and plans drawn with the
intention of making a model.à

Work on the model
was started in April 2004 and completed in the November of that
year.

Click
on each picture for a bigger view.

á
The
three pictures above show a superb 1/12th
scale model of a Napoleonic Field Gun and Limber, circa 1853; made
by "Radish", who lives in Brisbane, Australia. This is
the type of gun developed for Napoleon III, and subsequently used
by the British and U.S. armies in the second half of the Nineteenth
century. The limber was used to transport the gun, and also carried
the ammunition boxes, and a further ammunition waggon would have
followed up the rear. This was the last set of plans designed by
Barrie Voisey, and is considered by many to be his best work. Radish
has achieved a lot of fine detail on this model, like the three
wooden pails which are 25mm tall, each made from 14 separate slats
held in place by 3 soldered brass rings which were gently hammered
to the required taper on a tapered steel mandrel; just like the
jewellers use for sizing rings! The rope was made by platting crochet
cotton, and this is used for the pails and also wrapped around the
business end of the cannon ram which can be seen attached to the
side of the cannon timber in the bottom left picture. The attractive
patina on the barrel has been achieved by a light sand blasting,
and then dunking it into a blackening chemical, then a brass wire
brush was used to get that slightly polished lighter colour on the
high points, and then finally, a couple of coats of Testors semi-gloss
clear lacquer.

á.The two delightful 1/8th
scale models of "Knackers Carts" show above and below,
and made by Paul Woods, who lives in Oxfordshire in the UK, are
a revelation, and goes to show what can be achieved with very
basic tools! At the time of making these models Paul had no lathe,
just a bench drill and stand. The naves were made from a broom
handle. Other timbers used were pine, beech and ramin; some were
purchased the right size, whilst others were cut with a 10inch
table saw. The lining out was all done by hand, carefully preparing
by masking out. In the top left-hand picture you may just be able
to see the fine lining out on each of the spokes where they fit
into the nave. The picture to the top right-hand shows a closer
view of the lining out on each of the chamfered edges. Note also
the pole axe fitted to the side of the cart, and the ratchet and
winch set between the shafts. The cart does actually have rubber
tyres; Paul e-mailed rubber manufacturers for samples and used
gasket rubber, cut into 3mm strips using a metal edge and a craft
knife. The actually vehicle is housed in a friends warehouse where
Paul took measurements from which he produced plans.

ßThe second cart, show left,
(also made by Paul) was a little more fiddly to make! The spindle
sides and the lamps make a pleasing contrast to the previous model.
The lamps are made from plastic card and brass tubing and each
lamp actually contains a ‘candle’ complete with wick!
Paul quotes:- “All the metal parts (black) were
made of brass, filed, drilled, beaten, soldered, shaped and cursed
at a few times, then painted with a satin finish paint. I discovered
a source of wooden packaging batons 1"x ¾", from
a shop selling washing machines, fridges etc.”

Despite the purpose
they were used for, these carts were well looked after and attractively
painted with detailed chamfering on many of the timbers.

Move
mouse pointer over picture to see rear view.

ß"Popsarsi",
a model maker who lives in Hamilton , New Zealand, has made about
15 wagons/carts over the past 25 years. The Bow Top, shown left,
was his first introduction to model making. Made in 1986 with limited
tools, The tools used at the time were:- panel saw, Stanley plane,
hacksaw blade, craft knife, large file, sand paper & Black &
Decker drill. The scale is 1/8th,
taken from line drawings and descriptions in "The English Gypsy
Caravan", by C. H. Ward-Jackson & Denis E. Harvey. The
wood is Heart Rimu, Dacrydium cupressinum probably the
most popular turning wood in NZL The lamps, which are not traditional,
are brass fittings out of old lights with glass tops from medical
snap of vials as is the chimneys. The entire wagon is made out of
scrap material.

Brian Simpson is
a member of the Guild of Model
Wheelwrights, and I had the good fortune of meeting and talking
with Brian at the Midlands Model Engineering Exhibition in October
2005. Our conversation was primarily to do with SMHDV, and Brian
mentioned how much he liked my web site, and in particular the
link to this Stone
Lifting Machine
located in Owen Sound, Ontario Canada, so much so, that he felt
that he would like to make a model of this unusual machine! "You
make the model Brian, send me a picture of it, and I will gladly
put it in the Model Gallery" I promised. Well, here
it is and what a great model! I would think that this is
the first model ever made of this machine. Brian decided to try
to model it from the photos and wheel measurements provided by
Martin Donald, a volunteer at The County of Grey Museum.à

Brian then scaled
the rest of the photos of the vehicle from that information –
the first time he had scaled from photos.

áThis outstanding model of
a horse-drawn omnibus has been made by Ralph Kitching, a member
of the Guild of Model Wheelwrights who lives in London. This vehicle
would have been drawn by two horses and could seat 12 passengers
inside and 14 outside on the roof of the carriage, which was accessed
by the large platform and staircase at the rear of the vehicle.
The London General Omnibus Company (L.G.O.C.) had a total of 1,373
buses and an incredible total of 16,714 horses. This number was
required because each omnibus needed 10 horses to stay on the
road covering a duty of four trips a day of 3½ hours average
duration. A fresh team was used for each trip, and the fifth pair
given a rest day. The London Transport Museum and the Science
Museum have a number of full size vehicles on display, as well
as a number of scale models built to a scale of 2 inches to the
foot, (1/6th
scale).

áThe first horse-drawn buses
appeared in London in 1829, and continued to be a major part of
the city's public transport system until the outbreak of the First
World War, when the success of motorized buses made the horse-drawn
omnibuses redundant. The last recorded horse omnibus in London
ran its last journey between Peckham and Honor Oak Tavern on 4
August 1914.

These next two
excellent models have been made by Kees van Uden who was born
in the Netherlands and moved with his family to New Zealand in
1960. Kees started making Horse drawn Carriages about 30 years
ago, and has completed around 30 models during those years. The
timber used is the native New Zeeland Kauri Pine - Agathis
australis – the largest species of tree in New Zealand
which can live to a great age; it is a very fine grained wood,
and is ideal for model making. The photograph shown right is a
1/6th
scale model of John Thompson's Brush Waggon. This vehicle was
used around 1888 for selling Brushes, brooms and Carpet Pieces.
Kees has also included a number of interior fitting, like a black-lead
stove, carpets, bed linen, and cupboards. The
model was made in 2004 and took approximately 9 months to complete.
This is the first model of a Brush Waggon I have seen! à

Move
mouse pointer over picture to see detail of interior of brush wagon.

ßAnother model
made by Kees van Uden, is this 1/8th
scale Otahuhu Coach, shown right. This
coach was used for passengers around Auckland in the 1870, and
was drawn by four horses; similar types were used up until 1914.
Kees planned and research this model quite thoroughly but was
unable to find much information about it, and there was nothing
left of the waggons to compare with. Photographs from a book by
Lodestar Press NZ called “The Horse Drawn Days” was
of some help.

To
see close-up of rear wheel move mouse pointer over picture.

You
wait years to see a picture of a brush wagon, and then two come
along together! J
This photo, and the following four, were taken at the Midlands
Woodworking and Woodturning Exhibition, a three day event ( April
21st –
23rd),
held at the Warwickshire Exhibition Centre. The model shown here
was made by Guild Member Joe Cartledge. Joe has used beech, rescued
from a school who had decided to update to plastic moulded desks
and consign the traditional beech ones to a bonfire! Joe could
not stand by and see all this wonderful seasoned timber go up
in flames and therefore managed to save a number of these to be
put to good use. A number of the vendor’s goods are on display,
the various brushes and brooms hanging on the side of the wagon,
three legged and four legged stools, canes and walking sticks
and in the foreground can be seen two washing dollies. Joe would
like to include a few rolls of lino and carpet to be displayed,
but has yet to find suitable materials in a 1/8th
scale that would look authentic.à

Move
mouse pointer over picture to see side view.

ßThe Coal Merchants Trolley
was once a familiar sight in city streets and towns. This 1/8th scale model has been made by Guild Member
Brian Simpson, and whilst this looks quite straightforward to make,
there is interesting detail in the springs and various fittings.
As this was primarily an urban vehicle, used on paved roads, large
rear wheels were not needed and indeed would have been a handicap
to the coalman when accessing the loaded coal sacks and lifting
them from the trolley. Brian has also included the weights and weighing
instrument. These would have been of a form approved by the Local
Authority, and the coalman would have been required by law to carry
these on the vehicle and would have to weigh or re-weigh any coal
in these sacks at the request of a purchaser, or by anyone on their
behalf, or by an Inspector of Weights and Measures.

áRoger Morgan, who lives in
Surrey, is a member of the Guild of Model Wheelwrights. Shown
here is Roger’s 1/8th
scale model of John Thompson's Milk Float, the actual vehicle
can be seen in the National Dairy Museum at Wellington Country
Park, near Reading. The
photo above is slightly out-of-focus and doesn’t show the
fine hand painted detail.

Shown
above is a closer view of the hand painted detail.This has been
done by Roger’s 20 year old niece, who has demonstrated here,
her steady hand and eye in painting this model!

ßThe
traditional Shepherds Hut has been authentically reproduced here
by Guild Member Brian Simpson. The hut would have been fully equipped
and might have had to be towed several miles from the farm to the
field where the sheep were during lambing time, so that a constant
watch could be kept on the ewes and new born lambs. In a copy of
a 1894 Country Gentleman's Catalogue, there is an advertisement
for a similar hut costing £3.10! A shepherd's wages, according
to J. Alfred Eggar in 1870, was 35 shillings a week and £5
at Michaelmas. He also received a cottage and a garden rent free,
half a ton of coal, 50 bavins (which are bundles of fire-wood),
£1 a year for the keep of a dog, and six pence for every lamb
reared. Shepherds were highly valued men.

Move
mouse pointer over picture to see detail of interior.

Texas
rancher Charles Goodnight is credited with creating the prototype
for the chuck wagon. In 1866, he and his partner, Oliver Loving,
made preparations to take a herd of 2,000 longhorn cattle from near
fort Belknap in northern Texas, to Denver. Goodnight purchased a
government wagon and had it completely rebuilt according to his
specifications in seasoned bois d'arc, the toughest wood available.
The high time of the trail drives lasted only about 20 years, from
the end of the Civil War to the mid -1880's. Guild Member Roger
Morgan has recreated this classic vehicle in 1/8th
scale from John Thompson's plans. There is a wealth of detail in
the running gear and the various cooking utensils stored at the
rear. à

ß
The model of
the 1/8th scale
Young & Co Brewers Dray shown left was made by Hefin Jones,
who lives in Harlech, Gwynedd, in north-west Wales. A Guild member
of only three months Hefin made his first HDV model in the late
1970s. His latest model, and most elaborate to date, is the Brewers
Dray. The plans are from the Voisey Collection and feature a number
of interesting details, like the springs supporting the fifth wheel,
and the hinged name board that can be dropped down when not loaded
with barrels to enable the dray to be housed in the shed. Hefin
has made all 14 barrels by cutting thick straight strips with a
“V” shaped profile. These are then laid around a mandrel and glued;
then while still on the mandrel the outside is turned to the curved
barrel shape. Result!....a perfect looking barrel, and the geometry
is correct!

Ploughs:
Ploughing prepares land for crop-growing. In each pass across a
field, the plough cuts out a slice of earth and turns it over. This
has the effect of burying weeds, aerating the soil and easing the
absorption of surface moisture. After a period of weathering, which
helps to break down heavy clods into a more crumbly texture, the
land can be harrowed to produce an even seed bed. Essential features
of the plough have remained the same since medieval times: a horizontal
beam to which is attached a ploughshare and knife coulter to cut
the furrow slice, and a mouldboard to turn it over. Improvements
in design and efficiency evolved over the centuries but quickened
in pace from the Victorian period.

The
two ploughs shown right are in 1/8th
scale and have been submitted by Biddy Hepper, a member of the Guild
of Model Wheelwrights. They are fascinating subjects to model, and
have the advantage that all the work can be done by hand, since
you have no large wheels to make as on the carts and waggons.à

ß
During the 1st
and 2nd July 2006, the Guild
of Model Wheelwrights held an exhibition at the Blists Hill Open
Air Museum, Telford, where many Guild members bought along their
models to display to the many hundreds of visitors to the museum.
Greville Lyons, a Guild member who lives in Cheshire, bought along
this 1/8th scale
model of John Thompson's "Brook Bond" Tea Van. Although
at first glance this van seems just a “box on wheels”
it has actually quite a complex structure. The wooden standards
are morticed through the bottom sides, middle and top raves, and
the joints secured by dowels, and around 300 coachbolts are used
in its construction. Vans of this type carried the bulk of city
trade in late Victorian and Edwardian times and many firms ran their
own stables, but the wear and tear of city work on both vehicles
and horses favoured the larger scale operations of transport firms
such as Lloyds, who operated vans on contract.

As with the previous
model, this, and the following three models were photographed
at the Blists Hill Open Air Museum.

John
Walford, a Guild member from Redditch, Worcestershire has made
this 1/8th
scale Dutch Military Waggon, circa 1860, based on plans by Frans
Zwartjes. The model is displayed in the same state as that in
which it would have been delivered to the Dutch Army, i.e. unpainted.
This was to enable the checking of the quality of workmanship
and materials without any possible faults being obscured by paint.
The waggon is unusual, in that the front axle can move in three
planes, ensuring that all four wheels can stay on the ground,
even on very uneven surfaces. It is also unusual for hexagonal
nuts to be used on the coachbolts, British waggons of this period
would have used square nuts.Move
mouse pointer over lower picture to see front axledetail.
à

ßMick Davis
is a GOMW member who lives in Wolverhampton,
and shown here is his 1/8th
scale Lincolnshire Potato Cart made from David Wray plans. David
Wray says of this vehicle – “A long-boarded tip
cart of ‘Raved’ as opposed to ‘Dung-Cart’
build. The design is elaborate and uncommon. Although seen at Harringworth,
Northhants, the owner describes it as a Lincolnshire Potato Cart.
When seen it had been recently used for carting dung. Its condition
was exceptionally good, and it was probably built as a prestige
vehicle for market use rather than for pure farm use…”

Guild
member Ralph Kitching has made this Monmouthshire Farm Waggon in
1/12th
scale from John Thompson plans. The actual full size wagon was built
in a village wheelwright’s shop on the Welsh border. It has
panelled sides with chamfered wooden standards, a sweeping line
in the body and beautifully curved parts in the shafts. John Thompson
recommends this lovely little waggon as a first choice for anyone
starting out in making SMHDV, as there is plenty of detail to give
an interesting model, while the basic construction is simple enough
to present no problems. à

Move mouse pointer over picture to see close-up

ßGuild member Greville Lyons
has made this Bow Top Caravan from John Thompson plans in 1/8th
scale. This is the Open Lot type, in which the front is closed only
by curtains, so it is very suitable for the modelmaker who wishes
to fit out the interior and possibly display it with an internal
light. A sheet of photographs is included with the plans, to show
the beautiful paintwork executed by Peter Ingram, the well known
Gypsy waggon decorator and restorer. Built in Halifax in 1934, and
used regularly in Yorkshire until 1973, it is now on display at
Paulton’s Park, near Romsey.

à

This
1/12th
scale model of a Hornsby Hedge Cutter was made by Guild member Brian
Young. Notice the two seats; there would have been a driver to lead
the horses, and someone sitting in the rear seat operating the up
and down movement and the sideways movement of the cutter to avoid
the possibility of large branches and other obstacles from fouling
the blades.

Move
mouse pointer over picture to see different view.

The
two pictures shown above were submitted by John Ladlow. The first
is a model of a Kent Turnwrest plough from David Wray drawings.
John has recently 'restored' this model, as it is over twenty
years ago that it was made. John quotes - “I think it took
me about sixty hours, It is made from oak and steel. There is
an argument for not using the original wood that would have been
used in modelling as the grain could be perceived as not being
in scale. But I used oak which at anyrate is the right colour.
I remember having some fun making the wheels, how they were actually
made originally I do not honestly know. But I made a steel rim
from round wire, filing it flat on three sides and then soldering
it into a hoop. The spokes were tennoned into the hub and then
the hoop was sprung on to them. As I understand it the plough
would be used in difficult and heavy soils sometimes demanding
as many as six horses, which must have taken considerable strength
and skill in handling............

ß The idea is
that at the end of each furrow, from which we get the measurement
furlong (furrowlong), the plough could be turned around and come
back alongside the furrow just created, A forerunner to the modern
'turnover plough'. The furrow was created by the use of a double
sided share, and the coulter was repositioned and kept in place
by a sprung ash stick. The mould board is detachable and reversed
and held in place by a spiggot known as a 'cundleham', A good
word for a scrabble game. Interestingly is the way that a
set of parallel bars connect from the top beam to the front gallows,
this enables the forward traction to keep the plough digging into
the soil. To say that the design was conceived three to four hundred
years ago is remarkable.

The second model
is of a Ransomes
"YL" all iron plough, also made about twenty years ago.John
says -"It was from a JT plan and is in 1/8th scale. It
was made with all hand tools as I did not have any powered tools
at that time so it took forever I recall. I cut the parts out
of an old steel water tank that had been removed from a Manor
House loft. All the nuts and bolts I made from bits of rod and
strip steel. As the nuts are all square I drilled holes in a strip,
tapped each hole and then cut and filed to size, not difficult
but time consuming. I threaded a steel rod for the bolts and hammered
over the ends to make the heads. I know it took a long time but was
satisfying. I remember when I exhibited it at the model engineering
exhibition in Wembley overhearing two chaps saying that something
like what I had done was a piece of cake as they could do
all their models at work on fancy engineering equipment!
The Ransome plough was significant in the history of engineering
as it was the first ever piece of machinery to be made in separate
parts and in massed production, so all the parts were replaceable.
It dates from 1901.”

This exquisite little
sulky has been made in 1/16th
scale by Alejandro who lives in the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Alejandro took many measurements and photographs of the actual
full-size vehicle from which he produced his own plans.

ß
The detailed and decorative artwork is called “Filete Porteño”
in Argentina, and its origins can be found in the carts factories
where the craft pioneers actually created it while making the
carts ornamentation. Unfortunately there is very little documentation
about the fileteado's genesis and subsequent development. Greengrocers,
milkmen and tradesmen of every kind would adorn their vehicles
with this rich and colourful artwork, displaying scrolling lines,
acanthus leaves, flowers and bunches of grapes; much like the
richly decorated gypsy caravans seen in the early to mid 1900s
here in the UK! Deplorably, in 1975, the government of the day
bought in a rule that forbade this decoration as it was considered
a distraction to bus drivers!!! I believe that restriction is
still in force nowadays. Fortunately, “Filete Porteño”
is still kept alive by dedicated people who still teach and practice
this art. Alejandro has done this with this and a number of other
models.

Move
mouse pointer over picture to see closer detail.

The
1/12th scale
model of a "McKay" Sunshine
Stripper/Harvester has been made by Guild member Brian Young. The
original can be seen at the Science Museum as Wroughton in Wiltshire.
It took Brian approximately 1600 hours to complete, and the model
was finished in August 2001. Steel, ramin and leather are the materials
used.

Frustrated
by the slow and laborious nature of harvesting wheat, Hugh Victor
McKay, at the age of 18, assembled a stripper harvester on his father’s
property at Drummarton, Victoria, in 1884. While a number of similar
machines had been developed, the popularity of the Sunshine Stripper
Harvester was able to secure McKay’s place as one of the most
successful agricultural implement makers in Australia. The harvester
played an important role in establishing Australia as a leading
cereal producing country, and was one of the first manufactured
products to be exported. à

Move
mouse pointer over picture to see front view.

At
its peak the Sunshine Harvester Works employed 3,000 workers, covered
30.7 hectares (76 acres) and was the largest manufacturing plant
in Australia.

In October 2004,
Ron Curzon a Guild member who lives in Nottingham, found this
Pipe Drug rotting away in a field at Elvaston Castle in Derbyshire.
Although in a very poor condition it still had all four wheels
and Ron made three further visits to measure it all up and draught
a number of rough sketches. As it was decided to not paint the
model, American Walnut was used for all timber work and mild steel
for the iron work. This has given it an attractive look that is
very suitable for this type of model. All the woodwork –
including the wheels – took just a little over a month to
do, and during this time, due to Ron’s contact with various
local

authorities who knew very little about this vehicle and its history,
it was decided by the powers that be, to attempt to preserve it
by moving it to Clay Mills Pumping Station, Burton on Trent, where
it would be housed and protected from the elements! Unfortunately,
most of the Pipe Drug including all the wheels collapsed to pulp
in attempting to move it – so the only photographs and measurements
in existence were those that Ron had taken! On one of his visits
to Clay Mills Ron was given an old document stating that it was
built around 1912, and was used to transport 27" diameter water
pipes to where they were to be laid from the railway siding in Burton.

The
model was completed in October 2006 and since then Ron has received
a copy of the pipe details for which he hopes to make and include
with the model some time in the near future.

ß
If
you move the mouse pointer over Ron’s model you will see the
actually vehicle as it was before it disintegrated on being moved.

Joe
Serles, “papajo”, is a retired Branch Manager of an Industrial Engineering
Group who lives in St Charles, Missouri. Joe has been making scale
models of waggons and buggies for about 6 years and has sent in
this picture of a 1/8th
scale buckboard from plans ordered from http://www.wildhorsebooks.com/Plans.htm
Walnut has been used for the wheel rim, poplar for the spokes,
and bubinga for the rest of the model. The Schuler springs are from
steel wire, the front springs are made from automotive oil dip sticks
which were from an old local garage. The fifth wheel is made from
aluminium stock and hand file to shape, and the stringers under
the buckboard are from coat hangers beaten into shape on and anvil.à

Move
mouse pointer over picture to see different view.

ß
This weekend, (Friday 20th
to Sunday 22nd
April 2007) I attended the annual Woodex show at the Warwickshire
Exhibition Centre. As usual the GOMW had a display of members’ models,
and I include three for your enjoyment that haven’t been shown in
the Gallery before!

This
first model is a Mobile Pigeon Loft made in 1/12th
scale by Brian Young – it was completed in 1986 and took about 400
hours to make. These vehicles were introduced in France and Flanders
in the early stages of the First World War, remaining in use until
the mid 1920s. By 1918 there were over a hundred used on all parts
of the Western Front. Each vehicle contained fifty to sixty carrier
pigeons in the care of an NCO and fatigue man.

Guild
member Ray Hill lives in Nuneaton , Warwickshire, and here is his
1/8th
scale model of John Thompson’s Ledge Caravan. The actual full-size
vehicle was built in 1914 by the renowned gypsy caravan maker, “Dunton
and Sons” of Reading. This vehicle must rank as one of the most
ornate horse drawn vehicles ever built. Ray has done a wonderful
job with the intricate carving and painting. Not only would the
interior have been highly functional, it would have also been lavishly
decorated. The built-in furniture would have been French polished
mahogany, the large bevelled mirrors, with identical vase motifs
cut into the silver backed surface. The “Hostess” type stove with
a gilded decorated surround, and the white and blue enamelled steel
plate. There would have been brass curtain rods on brackets on which
bobble-fringed curtains would have been hung. There are several
hundred hours of work involved in creating a model to this high
standard of craftsmanship!

Move
mouse pointer over picture to view other side.

Click
on picture for a bigger view.

ß
Shown
left is a fine 1/8th
scale model of a Lincolnshire Hermaphrodite made from David Wray
plans by Guild member Patrick Hall from Warwickshire. It has wooden
axels and hoop tyres and was built in 1853. This type of vehicle
was common throughout the East Midlands, and for most of the year
the rear part only was used as a tip cart. At harvest time an ingenious
conversion provided the wagon with a large carrying platform needed
in the corn growing districts. The model here shows the forecarriage
and loading platform fitted.

á
Shown above
is an outstanding 1/8th
scale model of an Oxfordshire Waggon, constructed from plans of
John Thompson and made by Guild member Paul Woods who lives in
Oxfordshire. Paul has taken just over a year to complete the model,
and during the whole of that time he has posted his progression
HEREin the forum, along with many pictures. There is a wealth
of information contained therein; from the timber used, the construction
of the parts, the paint used, and much more. Anyone contemplating
making a model for the first time, and indeed any experienced
model maker will find a lot of help in the 6 pages of progression
that will be usefull in making any model.
.............. ......

Move
mouse pointer over picture to see different view.

ß
This weekend, (Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th June 2007), I attended
a GOMW exhibition at Boscobel House, Near Telford, Staffordshire,
and I include the following two models. Guild member John Huntbatch
from Stoke-on-Trent bought along this farm tip cart in 1/12th
scale from John Thompson plans. This type of cart was used for all
types of work around the farm and thousand were made in workshops
all over the country following the introduction of the simple and
functional design from Scotland in the mid 19th
Century. This example was used in Sussex until it was acquired by
the Weald and Downland Open Air Museum, near Chichester. The tailboard
hinges and lifts off, extension boards sit above the side for bulky
loads and of course the whole body tips.

This
1/8th
scale model of a Wheel-Car was exhibited by Guild member Biddy Hepper
who lives in Gwynedd, North Wales. It was made by Biddy’s late husband
who had it measured up when seen in the reserve collection of the
Acton Scott Farm Museum. Wheel-Cars, according to J. Geraint Jenkins
in “Agricultural Transport in Wales”, are uniquely Welsh vehicles
used widely in Central Wales, especially Radnorshire, The Marches
and South Wales, where different variants exist; according to the
location. It is particularly stable and controllable on mountain
slopes. It was used essentially for harvesting bracken or hay and
when loaded was front heavy, keeping the front skids on the ground
to act as a brake when going down-hill. à

ß

Guild member
Hefin Jones has made this Timber Waggon in 1/8th
scale from John Thompson plans. The inclusion of the axe, saw, sledge
hammer and wedges along with the chain in the box located on the
forecarriage gives the ‘finishing touch’ to the model.

The model was
photographed at Acton Scott on the 16th
June 2007.

Frank
Rake is a member of The Guild of Model Wheelwrights and lives in
Venice, Florida, USA, but lived here in the UK for a number of years
working on the Trident missile submarines in Barrow-in-Furness.
On retirement, several years ago, Frank was looking for a challenging
hobby to do during the long winter nights and came across John Thompson’s
plans in the Hobby’s catalogue. He picked the hardest he could find
– the Ledge Caravan! What a wonderful job he has done for a first
time model! The model is in 1/8th
scale, and the timbers used are birch and maple. By chance he attended
a Guild exhibition at Stoneleigh and joined as an associate member
but later became an ordinary member upon completing the Ledge Caravan.
He is currently working on a model of John Thompson’s Brush Waggon,
which is half way to completion to date. à

Click
on picture for bigger view.

Click
on picture for bigger view.

ß
The beautifully detailed model of a Pot Waggon shown left is the
second model Frank Rake has completed. Prior to leaving England
in 1999 to go back to the States he measured the Pot Waggon at Acton
Scott and produced plans in 1/8th
scale, which were later donated to the Guild along with various
photographs. The timber used throughout for this model is English
boxwood. The intricate detail that Frank has achieved on this model
can be compared to the real thing by going to this Acton
Scottpage of the forum.

Guild
Member Joe Cartledge has made about 40 models over quite a number
of years and each one is unique, inasmuch as each has been discovered,
researched and plans produced by Joe himself. The vehicle shown
here is a Knife Grinders Cart; dated at around 1912 – 1944. This
horse drawn vehicle would have been pulled through the streets and
used to sharpen any blunt knives, scissors and shears etc; that
had been sent out from various houses in the area. Each vendor would
have their own distinctive sing-song cries, bells, chime whistle,
or horns to announce their arrival in the street. In the ‘mouse-over’
picture, which shows a view from the top, can be seen the foot treadle
at the back. This would have been sometimes operated by a young
boy, which turned the belt-driven flywheel and the two grind stones.
Likewise, the bellows would have been operated by the same young
boy to heat the coals for the knife grinder to forge and work tools
on the anvil and vice.

á
The model is built to 1/8th
scale using measurements taken from the actual vehicle which is
now in a private collection at Cheadle in Staffordshire.

Move
mouse pointer over picture to see top view.

This
neat 1/8th
scale model of a 1914 wagonette was made by Guild member Joe Cartledge
who used measurement scaled from old photographs.

The original vehicle was built by George Illsley, a coachbuilder
of Ashby de la Zouch, a small market town in North-West Leicestershire
in England. The principal feature of a wagonette is the longitudinal
seats where the passengers would face each other, and in this example
would seat 12 passengers on these longitudinal seats. It would have
been used for carrying parties on trips and outings, being pulled
by a pair of horses. It has long soft springing to the rear, elliptic
front springs, foot operated brakes to the rear wheels and access
is gained by ascending the three steps to the rear door. The timber
Joe has used throughout is beech.

Move
mouse pointer over picture to see rear view.

This outstanding detailed model of a Shand Mason, Horse Drawn,
Steam Driven Fire Engine has been made by Graham “greenie” Green,
who lives in Brisbane Australia.The original six sheets of drawings
were drawn in 1/6th
scale, but Graham had them scanned and reduced by 50% to get
them to 1/12th
scale; a scale that he likes working in and also to suit all
the other horse drawn models that he has completed.
Graham has wisely not attempted to make this as a live steam
model as the original bigger 1/6th
plans were intended; as he correctly points out - “It
would be very risky trying to fire up something of this size,
so this will be a static model only as you CAN NOT scale down
steam pressure!” What makes this a top-class model
is the high standard of craftsmanship achieved on the paintwork
and the decals; and also the beautiful detailed brass fittings
and other metal work. You can see more on the build and progression
of this model by going to this FORUM
link and also to Graham’s WEBSHOTS
link, where he goes under the nickname of “Radish.” There are
a number of Graham’s/Radish’s other models towards the top of
this Model Gallery page.

I/12th
scale Shand
Mason, Horse Drawn, Steam Driven Fire Engine.

Move
mouse pointer over picture to see rear view.

ßThe
Hertfordshire
Dung Cartmodel shown here was photographed
at Blists
Hill Open Air Museum, Telford,
on Sunday 22nd
February
2009. This is made in 1/8thscale from David Wray's plans
by Guild member Mick Davis who lives in Wolverhampton.

A large
tipping dung cart fitted with ladder and copse for use in the
harvest field. Very typical of the county. It has iron axles and
hoop tyres.

Another
model photographed at the same venue as the previous one above.à
This is a 1/8th
scale model of an Austrian 6pdr. Field Gun, and dates from around
1810. It has been made by Guild member John Walford, (Tedwin), who
drew up his own plans based on available illustrations and photographs.
Only one of these has survived, made in 1814, and is housed in the
museum at Graz in Austria.
The woodwork of the carriage was painted pale yellow and the ironwork
painted black, as it has been realised that a matt black barrel
could sustain a higher rate of fire before overheating.
John has turned the barrel from mild steel and then lightly had
it shot blasted to give the scale appearance of having been cast
in sand. The rivets and chain are the only pasts not made from scratch.

Move
mouse pointer over picture to see rear view.

Move
mouse pointer over picture to see side view.

ß
This
1/12th
scale model of a Covered Night Soil Cart has been made by Guild
member Ralph Kitching who lives in London. It was completed in April
2004, and was taken from illustrations in a 1900 catalogue. It took
520 hours to complete. The full-size cart had curved oak soles with
tongued and grooved bottom boards, by which a perfectly water-tight
depth of six inches was obtained, which held all liquid matter in
the night soil.
It wasn’t until well into the 1920’s that flush toilets and sewerage
systems were laid on in towns and cities. Up until that time the
toilet was just a hole in a wooden board with a metal container
below, which of course had to be emptied and the contents disposed
of. This was a job for the ‘night-soil men’, to remove the effluent
of the affluent and the common people alike. The waste was used
as fertilizer for the local market gardens; also much of it was
tipped into cesspits which often overflowed into nearby wells and
streams.

This
great 1/8th
scale model of a Square-Fronted
à
Brougham has been made by Paul Woods who lives in Oxfordshire.
The plans are from John Thompson’s “Master Carriagebuilder” collection.
John Thompson says of this vehicle “The Brougham was the most
popular of the closed carriages in the 19th
Century, perhaps because it could seat up to four persons, yet
be pulled by a single horse. Such vehicles were in use as family
coaches but in their later years many were fitted with roof luggage
racks and served on station and cab ranks.

There
is a wealth of detail in this model; from its intricate shaping
of the fifth-wheel assembly, the hinged glazed doors, the rich
upholstery, carriage lamps and neat lining-out. If you go HEREyou will find an 18 page step-by-step build and progression
of Paul's model and many more pictures.

Move
mouse pointer over picture to see different view.

ß
Paul Keith,
(PK for short) who lives in Mesa, Arizona in the USA, has made a
number of fine horse drawn vehicle models in 1/8th
scale. Shown here is a Telephone Company Construction Crew Wagon
which dates around 1900 to 1910. The Bell System logo depicted is
the one in use from 1878 to 1969. The decal was made on standard
white backed decal sheet on an inkjet printer. PK has also included
much of the telephone technician's gear which would be carried in
the wagon; such as the leather safety harnesses, shovels, sledge
hammers, axes, wire cutters and also a dated newspaper, all neatly
made in 1/8th
scale! There are also ropes, ladders, telephone cable on a wooden
reel and water bags, essential to the crew working in the arid climate
of the South West States. There is an excellent 6 page account on
the progression of the building of this model. Click HERE
for more details.

Richard,
who lives in Cape Town, South Africa, à
started working on this model of a Studebaker Sprinkler Wagon in
May 2008 and completed it two years later in May 2010, taking a
total of 424 hours to complete. Richard has worked from Ivan Collins’
plans, purchased from http://www.wildhorsebooks.com/collins.htm
which were reduced from 1/8th
scale to 1/10th
scale to suite metric measurements which Richard is more familiar
with. The model is loosely based on the type used in Klamath Falls,
Oregon. In the heat of the summer the streets were so thick with
dust that they required continuous watering. In about 1910 the dust
problem lessened when the streets started being paved. To see the
informative progression of the building of this model, and many
other pictures, go to THIS
page in the SMHDV Forum.

Move
mouse pointer over picture to see different view.

Move
mouse pointer over picture to see different view.

Here
is another excellent model made by Paul Woods who lives in Oxfordshire.
This is the fourth model of Paul’s which can be seen in this Gallery;
and, as with the others, there is a very comprehensive tutorial
on the build and progression of the model – see HERE
in the SMHDV Forum.
The model was started in the January of 2010 and completed June
2011 – taking 17 months to make.
The Hansom Cab was very much a part of city life in late Victorian
and in Edwardian times. The plans that Paul worked from are those
of John Thompson’s, in 1/8th
scale. It is quite a difficult and complicated model to make, on
account of the many compound angles used in its structure. This
example was built by Forder of Wolverhampton, who established an
unequalled reputation, and built very many of the London cabs.
The popularity of the Hansom Cab was unchallenged for some 72 years
until the early part of the 20th
century with the introduction of the motor cab. Its final demise
came in 1914 with the outbreak of WW1; although a few did survive
into the 1920s.

This
and the following model has been made by Gus à
MacMaster who lives in Wilkie, Saskatchewan, Canada. The 'Lange
Spring Wagon' named after A. Lange in whose yard in town the derelict
wagon was found. Although in a state of disintegration there was
enough left to obtain measurements for a 1:8 scale model to be
constructed. The model was built with a 'working' spring suspension
made of spring steel.
The 4 semi-elliptical rear springs are connected by 'universal
joint' type hangers that are also functional. Each universal joint
is 4/10ths of an inch long and each consists of 20 separate pieces.
No traces of the original paint remained so a 'standard' colour
scheme was chosen to reflect those of the period. Progression
of the building of this model can be viewed HERE

ß
The Buckboard was constructed from John Thompson plans that he
made from the original that is now in a private collection. The
1:8 model was constructed of oiled American black walnut and brass.
Construction took place over a period of 18 mothhs and simultaneous
to the construction of the Lange Wagon.Originally
designed for personal transportation in mountain regions, these
distinctively American vehicles were widely used in newly settled
regions of the United States

To
see the informative progression of the building of this model,
and many other pictures, go to THIS
page in the SMHDV Forum.